Gas worker fined after co-worker drinks frackwater

Oct. 26, 2011

MONTROSE, Pa. (AP) -- A former worker at a northeastern Pennsylvania gas drilling site has been fined $250 after another worker drank treated drilling water and became ill.

The Times-Tribune of Scranton reports Jason Conklin was found guilty Monday on a summary disorderly conduct charge for the June incident in Dimock.

Conklin told a district judge no testing jars were available so he put treated hydraulic fracturing water into a bottle and took into the break room. Another worker used the water to make a pot of coffee and immediately became nauseous. He was diagnosed with intestinal inflammation that lasted several days.

The Times-Tribune report says the water had been labeled "Do Not Drink" but Conklin acknowledged he should have indicated it was treated drilling wastewater.